Sleepless Nights Testing Our Own Theories

by Lou Balderrama
(Oxnard, Ca. USA)

I was a student back in 1977 and remember taking the "sleep and dreams" class. Several of us in the class were so curious about the material in the lectures we often had informal "see who can go without sleep" for the longest period experiments in Toyon Hall. We were trying to validate the course material. The class was exceptional and we thought the professors name (Dr. Dement) was fitting for the class.

Best Memory of Sleep and Dreams

by Melissa
(Singapore)

I took "Sleep and Dreams" in 2004/2005. I loved the narcoleptic dogs that were brought to class as an example of research into Sleep. I came to understand that sleep is a highly important and actively researched topic.

I used to think that sleep was not all that important

by Lisa Hinton
(St. Clair, MO, U.S.)

I have learned a lot about sleep in this class. I used to think that sleep was not all that important, but now I know different. Now when I wake up, I know what stage of sleep I was most likely in at the time.

Dreams

About Us

About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of
Dr. William C. Dement's
Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?

A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

More Questions:

The Stanford Sleep Book

Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for
Sleep and Dreams
since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

More Sleep Resources

The Zeo

A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.

Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note:

The information found on this page and throughout this site is intended for general information purposes only. While it may prove useful and empowering, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgments of healthcare practitioners.